South African buyers visiting Zimbabwe to attend this year’s edition of the country’s Sanganai/Hlangani Tourism Expo, have called for the introduction of a tourism currency in the Southern African Development Community region saying this would help cushion visitors from currencies that are weakening against the US dollar.

They further said Zimbabwe has become an expensive tourism destination. The expo will be attended by 160 buyers drawn from various nations.

The annual Sanganai/Hlanganai Tourism Expo comes at a time the country is facing a huge cash crisis that critics say may have a negative bearing on the outcome of the show that is expected to bring a lot of tourists and revenue to the country.

Sugar Chagonda, spokesperson of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, told VOA Studio 7 that visitors are encouraged to use plastic money as the southern African nation is currently facing a cash crisis.

"We would like the buyers that are coming to Sanganai to utilise plastic money so that this revenue can help revive the economy. But we are currently engaging the relevant government officials to explore ways to ease the cash crisis facing the country for our guests at the expo,” said Chagonda.